This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
My biggest challenge is helping students develop a love for reading. Many don't have books at home and the only time they have stories read to them is at school. Although we read together as I meet with them in small groups, they'll never get enough of hearing good stories!
My school is 97% Hispanic and and is a Title I school.
Every student in my class receives free or reduced-price lunch. My students are ELL learners, where English is their second language. They love learning and love school! They love being read to and are beginning to read to themselves. Their parents speak no English and are limited in helping them when it comes to reading, so creativity in reaching ALL their needs is essential. Many do not know letters of the alphabet nor the sounds; which are the beginning stages of learning to read. An extension of me in the classroom would be helpful. That is why a listening center would help so much!!
My Project
If we were to have a listening center in the classroom, students could use it to listen to songs of the alphabet, which will aid those who do not know them. This would enhance their knowledge of what they are lacking, as they should know these things prior to First Grade. They could also listen to books on cd/tape. (I have collected these from teachers who have recently retired.) This will foster a love for reading, model reading fluency and, above all, read stories that I am not always able to read to them due to the constraints of the day and the time it takes to teach all other subject matter. They could also reinforce comprehension by completing comprehension activities, as they are able to refer to the text as it is read aloud to them to show evidence. Many state assessments are asking students to find evidence in the text and those who have difficulty will have read aloud assistance.
Since most learning in my classroom is done in small groups, students will not only receive exposure to good literature during guided reading, they can also receive extra time to listen to 'good literature' at the listening center.
Before moving to this state, I used a listening center in a former classroom and saw the major difference it made as concepts taught through music and books read on tape enhanced learning and provided exposure to various authors.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Parker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
